This
page and the other pages in this series are the successors to the series
of web-page about the Camden Fire Department that began with the page Camden
Fire Department: The Fires of the Summer of 2011. On this and other
pages in the series you will find pictures and information regarding
different events and aspects of the fire service in Camden, New Jersey.

During
the morning of February 3, 2012 a fire was reported at 640 Beideman
Avenue in East Camden. Companies were dispatched with the word that
there were multiple houses on fire with victims trapped. Photographer Ted
Aurig reported the following:

Battalion
2 arrived and reported heavy fire conditions in a 1 story middle of the
row. The All Hands Box was struck. Engine 11 led off with a 1 3/4"
hand line as Engine 9 secured a water supply and placed the back up line
in operation. Crews performed searches with negative results. The Truck
Company opened up as crews checked for extension. EMS transported an
occupant from the exposure with smoke inhalation.

There
were no firefighters treated for injuries while I was on scene, although
I was informed that two reported injuries after I had left. 640 Beideman
was completely gutted, the residents there lost everything. The row of
houses, built in 1952, have a soffit at the roof across the front of the
homes, and fire traveled along this path to 638 and 636 Beideman. Both
homes received damages that appear to be repairable. This fire is under
investigation by the Camden Fire Department's Fire Marshals.

All
photos are presented in the order in which they were taken. There
are so many images for this fire that I have split coverage of this fire
into three parts, this being Page 1. There are links below to continue
to Page 2 and Page 3.

As with
the web page covering other Camden Fire Department events, if you can
identify anyone that I've missed, please e-mail me. (I'm terrible
at at names and faces)..